Suzuki Motor Corp. surpassed Mercedes-Benz to become Japan's top car importer in June, importing 4,780 vehicles into Japan, mainly due to the popularity of the Jimny Nomad and another small SUV made in India.
Suzuki's success in Japan, despite being a smaller manufacturer compared to giants like Toyota, highlights the demand for its products, particularly the Jimny Nomad, which received 50,000 pre-orders.
Suzuki plans to increase production of the Jimny Nomad in India to meet demand and enhance import numbers further. The company is also targeting a 50% market share in India by 2030.
Honda and other automakers have also seen success with imported compact SUVs in Japan, with Honda's WR-V showing significant growth. Jeep, under Stellantis NV, performed well, surpassing imports by GM and Ford.